Ball and socket hinge



Oct. 18, 1966 D. o. GLENN ETAL 3,278,981

BALL AND SOCKET HINGE Filed July 16, 1965 FIG. 4

' INVENTORS 1 413 DAVID O. GLENN l G. 5 V CONSTANTIN GOOSSEV MJW UnitedStates Patent 3,278,981 BALL AND SOCKET HINGE David 0. Glenn, 455 E. 7thSt., and Constantin Goossev, 737 E. 9th St., both of Erie, Pa. FiledJuly 16, 1965, Ser. No. 472,640 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-128) This invention isa continuation-in-part of application, Serial No. 393,293, filed August31, 1964.

This invention relates to hinges and, more particularly, to the type ofhinges commonly referred to as ball and socket hinges.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved ball and sockethinge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball and socket hingewhich is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simpleand efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consistsof the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes maybe made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and are views of other embodiments of the invention.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, in the embodiment ofthe invention shown in FIG. 1, a first bracket 10 is shown, which couldbe in the form of a stamping formed with flanges 11 and 12 andintermediate internally threaded spaced generally cylindrical members 13and 14. The internally threaded cylindrical members 13 and 14 'have setscrews 15 and 16 threadably received therein, which may have sockets 17to receive a suitable wrench or the like. The adjacent ends of the setscrews 15 and 16 have cavities therein that define portions of ahemisphere at 1'9 and 20, and these cavities engage the outer peripheryof the sphere 21. Sphere 21 has a wrench receiving opening 22 in one endand a screw threaded member 23 on the other. By means of a suitablewrench in the opening 22, the threaded member 23 could be threadablydisposed into a member to be supported. Set screws 25 and 26 in the twocylindrical members may be used to lock the set screws 15 and 16 whenthey are tightened to their proper positions.

The flanges 11 and 12 may be used to secure the hinge to a door or adoor jamb, or the like.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, first block 110 hasthe spaced extensions 113 and 114 thereon. 'Ilhese extension have asurface on the outer end thereof that defines a portion of a cylinderwith a slot therebetween. The screw threaded member 117 is integrallyattached to the first block 110, and it may be inserted into a suitablesupporting member. A second block 112 engages the first block 110 and isfixed thereto by means of a set screw 125. It will be noted that thefirst block has a dovetailed surface 126, which receives the similarsurface on the second block 112.

The second block 112 has the spaced extensions 115 and 116, whichtogether with the extensions 113 and 114 define a slot that receives thespherical member 121, which is fixed to the screw threaded member 111.The spherical member 121 has a socket 122 thereon that may receive asuitable wrench to tighten the screw threaded member 111 into a memberto be supported.

The spherical member 121 is received in the slot defined by theextensions 113, 114, 115, and 116.

Patented Oct. 18, 1966 In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.3, a first block 210 is shown, which is provided with a flat surface 211on one side, and a cylindrical surface 220 on the other side. Aspherical member 221 is fixed to the first block 210 and a suitable neckmember 222 and a socket at 223 is provided for tightening the threads onthe neck member 222 into the first block 210.

A second block 224 has a flat surface 225 for engaging a member to besupported. Extensions 213 and 214 are fixed to the block 224. The thirdblock 212 is disposed in a dovetailed socket 226 in the second block224, and this third block is fixed to the second block 224 by means of aset screw 227. The third block has extensions 215 and 216 which arefixed to it, and the extensions 215 and 216 and 213 and 214 define aslot that receives the spherical member 221 which is integral with thethreaded neck member 222.

The extensions have cavities therein that face each other and definesections of a sphere that receives the spherical member 221, Thus, whenthe first block 210 is fixed to a door, for example, and the secondblock 224 is fixed to a door jamb, the door can be swung on thespherical member 221 and socket defined by the spherical surfaces.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, a ball and sockettype hinge is shown having a first block 310, a second block 311, and athird block 312. The first block 310 has a fiat surface 318 which mayengage a door, for example, and the second block 311 and the third block312 each have a flat surface indicated at 315 and 316, which may engagea door jamb. The third block 312 and second block 311 are held togetherby threaded screw 327.

The second block and third block each have an extension 314 and 313respectively, which define a slot therebetween that receives theextension 323 of the first block 316. The extension 323 has acylindrical opening or hole therein, and the extensions 313 and 314 eachhave a cavity therein that defines a part of a sphere that receives thespherical member 317. Thus, it will be seen that when the hinge isdismantled, the spherical member 317 may be placed in the cavity in thefirst block 310, and the second block 311 may he slipped over it. Thenthe third block 312 may be put in place with its cavity receiving theother side of the sphere, and the second and third block fixed togetherby means of the threaded screw 327.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5, a first bracket 410is shown that has spaced flanges 411 and 412, that are connected bymeans of the spaced cylindrical members 413 and 414. The lowercylindrical member 413 has an upwardly facing cavity that receives thelower side of the sphere 421, The sphere 421 has a threaded member 423thereon which may be tightened into a suitable support by means of awrench disposed in the socket 422. The upper cylindrical member 414receives the cylindrical member 420. Member 420 has pins on the outerperiphery thereof that are received in the slots 428. The pins swing upor down in the slots to hold the cylindrical member 420 in clampedposition against the sphere 421.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferredpractical forms but the structure shown is capable of modificationwithin a range of equivalents without departing from the invention whichis to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with theappended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hinge comprising a first block of rigid material,

means on one side of said first block adapted to engage a support,

a second block,

said second block having a first fiat surface,

spaced extensions on said second block,

a third block fixed to said second block,

said third block having spaced extensions thereon disposed in engagementwith said extensions on said second block,

said extensions on said second block and said extensions on said thirdblock defining the two sides of a slot,

two spaced cavities in said extensions,

said cavities each defining a part of the surface of a sphere,

a spherical member having a part thereof disposed in each of saidcavities,

and means on said spherical member attaching it to said first block,

said means attaching said spherical member to said first block extendingthrough said slot.

2. A hinge comprising a first block of rigid material,

a first generally flat surface on one side of said first block adaptedto engage a support,

a second surface on the side of said first block remote from said firstflat surface and being in the form of a part of a cylinder,

a second block,

said second block having a first flat surface,

spaced extensions on said second block,

and a third block fixed to said second block,

said third block having spaced extensions thereon disposed in engagementwith said extensions on said second block,

said extensions on said second block and said extensions on said thirdblock defining the two sides of a slot,

two spaced cavities in said extensions,

said cavities each defining a part of the surface of a sphere,

a spherical member having a part thereof disposed in each of saidcavities,

means on said spherical member attaching it to said first block,

said means attaching said spherical member to said first block extendingthrough said slot.

3. The hinge recited in claim 2 wherein p the distal ends of saidextensions are cylindrical and have a radius of curvature substantiallyequal to the radius of said cylindrical surface on said first block.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 423,247 3/1890Hastings 16128 958,052 5/1910 Williams 287--87 X 2,255,529 9/1941 May16-129 EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A HINGE COMPRISING A FIRST BLOCK OF RIGID MATERIAL, MEANS ON ONE SIDEOF SAID FIRST BLOCK ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A SUPPORT, A SECOND BLOCK, SAIDSECOND BLOCK HAVING A FIRST FLAT SURFACE, SPACED EXTENSIONS ON SAIDSECOND BLOCK, A THIRD BLOCK FIXED TO SAID SECOND BLOCK, SAID THIRD BLOCKHAVING SPACED EXTENSIONS THEREON DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAIDEXTENSIONS ON SAID SECOND BLOCK, SAID EXTENSIONS ON SAID SECOND BLOCKAND SAID EXTENSIONS ON SAID THIRD BLOCK DEFINING THE TWO SIDES OF ASLOT, TWO SPACED CAVITIES IN SAID EXTENSIONS, SAID CAVITIES EACHDEFINING A PART OF THE SURFACE OF A SPHERE, A SPHERICAL MEMBER HAVING APART THEREOF DISPOSED IN EACH OF SAID CAVITIES, AND MEANS ON SAIDSPHERICAL MEMBER ATTACHING IT TO SAID FIRST BLOCK, SAID MEANS ATTACHINGSAID SPHERICAL MEMBER TO SAID FIRST BLOCK EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT.